Harper High School is offering students the opportunity to earn college credit in addition to high school credit. The dual credit program aligns Harper High School course offerings with courses offered at Texas Tech University. The student will have the chance to actually work towards gaining college credit while attending classes at Harper High School. The college credits will also be entered on the student's high school transcript as a weighted course. Students must meet state and school requirements before they will be allowed to enroll in dual credit courses. In addition, the Harper ISD feels compelled to let students and parents know about the benefits as well as the down side of this program. Please read the information on this page and be make yourselves aware school policy. For additional information about specific classes you can go to Texas Tech's web page or come by my office for catalogue access.

Course Offerings:

High School Course	Texas Tech College Course
English IV	English 1301 and 2301
U.S. History	History 2300 and 2301
World History	History 1300 and 1301
Government	Political Science 1301
Psychology	Psychology 1300
Economics	Economics 2301
Algebra II	Math 1320

 

State Requirements:

To take a college course, high school students must first pass the Texas Academic Skills Program test (TASP) or meet the requirements for a TASP exemption. To earn an exemption from taking the TASP test, a student must:

• Pass the TAAS with: 1770 in writing; TLI of 86 in math; TLI of 89 in reading
• Score a composite of 23 or better on the ACT – with 19 verbal and 19 math
• Score 1070 or better on the SAT – with at least a 500 verbal and 500 math

Costs:

• $25 for administration fees (Harper Students get a $12.50 discount).
• $63 per semester hour plus books
• A three-hour college course costs a total of $214 ($201.50 with discount) per course plus books.
• Cost of books vary with the courses taken and are available in the Texas Tech Extended Studies catalogue.

How it works:

• The student enrolls through Harper I. S. D.
• Tuition fees will be collected by Harper I. S. D., but checks must be payable to Texas Tech University.
• The student works on the course in the classroom where the subject taken is being taught if at all possible (there will be some exceptions and these will addressed on an individual basis).
• If a student hasn’t completed at least two lessons by the end of the first six-week period, the student must start taking the high school curriculum offered in the regular high school course.
• Final exams must be taken and grades issued before the end of the semester for a student to be eligible for credit.
• Dual credit courses will be treated as "weighted courses" when calculating grade point averages.
• Texas Tech assumes the role of "Teacher of Record."
• Classroom teachers at Harper serve as facilitators.

Advantages:

• Students may take college classes during the day, while attending high school.
• Students do not have to drive long distances at night to take classes.
• Students in athletics and other extra-curricular activities earn college credit and still have time for events, practices and games.
• Challenging college curriculum better prepares students for scoring high on the ACT and SAT entrance exams.
• Students may save hundreds of dollars in student fees, housing, and transportation costs normally incurred while attending college.
• Course credits are transferable to other colleges.

Cautions:

• If a graduating senior takes a dual credit class that is required to graduate, he or she is in danger of not graduating if they do not pass the class or if they fail to complete the assignments and the pass the final before the date of graduation.
• College courses and are inherently more difficult than the high school courses most students are accustomed to taking. Therefore, students must be self-motivated and exercise self-discipline when attempting the more challenging curriculum.
• Once enrolled in the course, a student will not be refunded the fee, even if he/she fails to complete the curriculum.
• The grades earned in the course will be entered on your high school transcript as well as on your college transcript. These grades will be used to calculate both high school and college GPA’s.
• Make sure the course you take will be required for the major you intend to pursue at the college you intend to attend. If not, you may be spending money to take an unnecessary class.

   homepage.htm

 

course offerings state requirements costs how it works

advantages cautions catalogue